Pakistan pushing ex-servicemen into J&K

Pakistan has begun pushing ex-servicemen into Kashmir to boost the morale of the separatists, official sources said. Security agencies suspect that the terrorist involved in Thursday's attack on an army column in south Kashmir was a retired Pakistani soldier.

The 65-year-old, Mohiuddin Rubani alias Abdul Mateen Chacha, of Malakand (Pakistan) was killed by soldiers after he opened fire on the army column at Janglat Mandi, 55km from Srinagar, killing two soldiers, including a colonel, and injuring Brigadier Bikram Singh and two others.

Two civilians were also killed and another was injured in the shootout.

The sources said intelligence inputs have also suggested the presence of Pakistani ex-servicemen in the ranks of the terrorists.

They said Rubani, who entered the area in the guise of an egg-seller, took out a weapon and started firing on the soldiers.

A Kalashnikov rifle, two grenades and three magazines were recovered from the slain terrorist, they said.